Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - to all the dads out there

OK, I'm a soon-to-be dad and I was wondering if I could just throw the baby in my messenger bag instead of cramping my smooth "fixey stylee" lines with one of those clunky baby seats. I think I have room for some diapers and a bottle in there. Maybe I could wrap it up in on of my old-skool wool Colnago sweaters and secure him with my wallet chain so he don't fall out. Let me know how you guys do it. I need some fatherly advice.

your life will never be as it was, just go with the flow. and keep the toes out of the spokes. good luck.

Trailer first. Hold out for used Burley. Should go $200. My daughter and I just upgraded to a tandem (she's 4). This is the most fun we have had together.

-Z

dude - throw a brake on if you glide with a trailer. Think of the children...
(if you're riding fixed)

u r done! BIKING IS A DREAM..


S/F,
CEYA!

When I throw my little one in my Reload bag I just toss in some crackers and a bottle - oh and try try to stop and check on him every 25 mi or so..

Actually I have 3 and ride all the time - I just ride alone most of the time now - before the sun rises - sets etc.

When I was in Boston I saw a guy riding with two children (on seperate bikes) and he was riding fixed.
Pretty cool scene.

The baby may fit in the messenger bag, but I'd imagine it wouldn't be very comfortable for the him/her. You may be able to use a Baby Bjorn on the front with your shoulder bag on your back. I'd try it myself but my 6 month old boy is already 20+ lbs, sheesh.
One thing you may face is objection from the mother.

I'd say a trailer is the best bet.

Anarchocyclist Jr rides fixed (http://www.radioflyer.com/trikes/trikes_33.html) too, when he's not a passenger (http://wicycle.com/supreme.htm). Before too long, he'll be hassling me about wearing a helmet, and I'll have to bite the bullet. (I know, I know.)

Congratulations. Meditate a lot for patience, especially right around the three year mark. If that doesn't work, just drink a lot.

Heh heh...thanks for the advice. It's getting a lot more real since my wife is due this month. It's definately going to change things...especially after 8+ years of just us and the cat.

I have a trailer (Yakima Big Tow) but it's not really built for hauling kids, so I've been keeping my eye open at the secondhand children thing store for one. They have a couple, but not quite what I'm looking for yet. It'll be a little while before he can ride in one anyway.

Ciao.

OK, I'm a soon-to-be dad


Wow! Congratulations!
I didn't think that could happen if you were fixed. :o

I used to cary my first born in a newspaper delivery bag, but not on the bike. INfants shouldn't ride until their necks are strong enough to support a helmet. 18 mos or so. I had a Rhode Kid Taxi seat that was removable it left a Blackburn rack on the bike which was way useful for strapping on pampers and such when I had to run to the store. I've also used a trailer in recent years. Wike makes an awesome quality product.

I also do most of my riding alone at dawn, and commute to work and for erands.

I remember some kind of bicycle that had the trike setup. Meaning two wheels, but the front wheel was the driving wheel, and it had pedals fixed on the front cog. That would be the ideal fixed gear setup for a small child. I think that the kid that was riding that was 3 years old or something.

For smaller kids, there is always panniers.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that the baby I used to cary around in a newspaper bag... She's 12 now, and we ride together all the time. She's not even embarrassed to be seen with me in a bright yellow wind breaker ;) Oh, and she doesn't give me a hard time about having to wear a helmet. she gives me a hard time when I don't wear one.

my kid is 2 and I've ridden more since she was born than before... it is good stress management and I figure since I barely get any sleep anymore I might as well be in shape.

trailers are good. we have a seat on my wife's bike (my bike is too cool for rack eyelets.... :(.) The kiddo loves to ride around in it.

i have a second bike a cheap mtb with two seats to carry my kids.
i think this the best way out as they are two totally different setups for diffrent uses.

We have one of these for our two-year old:
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_15/602-2720015-2157455?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B00006JHVN

I know Burleys have an excellent repuation, but I don't have any complaints about the one above. Well, one: the seat would be better if it had a "pocket" for the child's helmet so they can lean back on the chair all the way. Also, I haven't tried it in inclement weather, yet, but it seems like it should be fine.

The kid loves it. Finding a helmet that fit was more difficult.

You have to check out the "Chariot" Sidecar...
http://www.chariotcarriers.com/html_english/sidecarrier.htm
it's some pretty cool industrial design. I haven't tried it myself, I needed the double for my two monkeys. The "boy" insists on using the fixed gear to haul the trailer rather than my SS..."its cooler" he says...4 years old and already a hipster.

I've gotta say that Chariot (as posted above) makes some REALLY killer trailers that are REALLY adaptable. They've got X-country ski attachments for cryin' out loud! They're pricey though.

Wow! Congratulations!
I didn't think that could happen if you were fixed. :o

Excellent !! :lol:

http://sheldonbrown.com/carrababy.html

Heh...good one Trike.

I'll look into those other brands mentioned...I'm hoping to find a second-hand one though.

i am actually looking for a baby to put in a bag for a commercial shoot, i'm in boston. if anyone has a youngster new born-two and wouldn't mind having them be a part of the project let me know. my email is shoot.first@gmail.com.

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that the baby I used to cary around in a newspaper bag... She's 12 now, and we ride together all the time. She's not even embarrassed to be seen with me in a bright yellow wind breaker ;) Oh, and she doesn't give me a hard time about having to wear a helmet. she gives me a hard time when I don't wear one.


cool house

I have two little boys. The oldest one already picked out a bike out of my collection that he plans to ride when he grows up. It's a bike I planned to sell....oh, well....

Kids are great. They make your rides shorter and harder. No lazy riding without purpose, when you could be at home with your kid!

http://www.bilenky.com/prod42.html

here´s my ex girlfriend . my daughter(selma) . and my bilenky..selma loved the fact that we could have eyecontact, occasionally ,while riding..

yea. ceya is rite.

two things you will be riding are

http://www.aride4you.com/10b.gif
and
http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/220000/226900/226977/Products/12289965.jpg

Oh yeah I forgot to mention that the baby I used to cary around in a newspaper bag... She's 12 now, and we ride together all the time. She's not even embarrassed to be seen with me in a bright yellow wind breaker ;) Oh, and she doesn't give me a hard time about having to wear a helmet. she gives me a hard time when I don't wear one.


thats pretty cool man, but i am kind of curious about that photo. it looks a lot like the bicycle is the subject and you and your daughter are background, not really paying any attention to the camera, was that intentional or are you and your daughter bad models ;)

the bike was more the subject of that picture. We had just bought it at a bike swap that weekend.